Rolls-Royce confirms it's working on new convertible for 2016

The Rolls-Royce stable is getting bigger by one more convertible, as the company has announced the development of a new luxury drophead design. Though exactly what will roll out the door isn't certain, it will likely be based on the Rolls-Royce Wraith Coupé, the smallest of the seven-model Rolls-Royce line.

The still-to-be-named car is currently in the prototype phase of development, but if it is a drophead Wraith, then it will very likely include the 623 bhp (458 kW) 6.6-liter twin-turbo V8 engine pumping 590 ft-lb (800 Nm) of torque. Being a convertible, though, the inevitable weight penalty will mean it won’t match the Coupé’s 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.4 seconds. And its top speed will probably be limited, as is the Coupé, to 155 mph (249 km/h).

In addition, a Wraith-derived car will almost certainly include the company’s Satellite Aided Transmission (SAT) for the 8-speed ZF gearbox with the capability of planning the drive ahead based on GPS data.

The new car is likely to be a convertible version of the Wraith

"The announcement of a new Rolls-Royce model is always a seminal moment in the automobile industry," says Peter Schwarzenbauer, Chairman of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. "When it arrives in 2016, this elegant and sensuous new car will build on the success of our current models and will play a key part in fulfilling Rolls-Royce Motor Car’s commitment to long-term sustainable growth."

The new Roller is expected to be available in the middle of 2016. No price has been quoted, but expect it to be over £250,000 (US$422,000).